The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Maiyaki Baba, has accused politicians of collaborating with thugs to scuttle the 2023 electioneering process across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

CP Baba said this during the signing of a peace accord by candidates of political parties contesting for various positions in the state.

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He explained that information at the disposal of the police command indicated that some politicians who do not have confidence of winning the forthcoming elections were importing thugs into the state to cause mayhem during the elections.

Baba, who is also the State Chairman, Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, said men and officers of the command in collaboration with sister security agencies are battle ready to deal with any breach of peace.

He said, “Intelligence before us revealed that some people are trying to bring thuggery into Nasarawa State which is not the tradition in the state.

“I want to inform the candidates across the state that the information is before us and it is important to bring to your notice. We are up to the task to the extent that our security agencies have been directed to continue in carrying out patrols, raiding hotels where some of the hoodlums may be kept.”

The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, who spoke on behalf of the other candidates urged all contenders to shun acts that may undermine the peaceful coexistence among diverse groups in the state.

He said no leader can successfully administer the state in an atmosphere of rancour.

He added that if politicians obeyed the guidelines stipulated by the Constitution and the electoral act 2022, the elections would be peaceful, free and fair.

Earlier in his speech, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state, Uthman Ajidagba, urged the candidates to ensure strict adherence to the accord document.

Our correspondent observed that candidates of 14 political parties, including the incumbent governor, Sule signed the accord to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections.

The peace accord was organised by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in collaboration with the INEC.